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Basil of Baker Street #8
Basil and the Library Ghost
The inspiration for a hit Disney film and named one of “13 Detective Book Series You Obsessed Over as a Kid” by BuzzFeed, the masterful Great Mouse Detective is back and ready to investigate a library haunting!
Basil of Baker’s Street, the masterful mouse detective who studied under Sherlock Holmes, is on his way to a school reunion with his old friends from Ratcliffe College. Along for the trip is his steadfast companion, Doctor Dawson. But all is not well, as they soon learn that the dastardly Ratigan has escaped from prison in London. Could the rat possibly be planning revenge against his old nemesis, Basil himself?
But before Basil and Dawson can worry too much about the wily rat, they hear another piece of worrying news. The duo arrives in Oxford only to be informed that the library of Basil’s old college is haunted! The students are thoroughly spooked, and the whole mess threatens to sour the festive mood of the reunion. Basil, for one, doesn’t believe in the supernatural and plans to put the rumors to rest.
But the strange occurrences continue, without any obvious explanation. Is this one case that can stump even the Great Mouse Detective? And as Basil and Dawson dig deeper, are there even more sinister secrets afoot?
Basil of Baker’s Street, the masterful mouse detective who studied under Sherlock Holmes, is on his way to a school reunion with his old friends from Ratcliffe College. Along for the trip is his steadfast companion, Doctor Dawson. But all is not well, as they soon learn that the dastardly Ratigan has escaped from prison in London. Could the rat possibly be planning revenge against his old nemesis, Basil himself?
But before Basil and Dawson can worry too much about the wily rat, they hear another piece of worrying news. The duo arrives in Oxford only to be informed that the library of Basil’s old college is haunted! The students are thoroughly spooked, and the whole mess threatens to sour the festive mood of the reunion. Basil, for one, doesn’t believe in the supernatural and plans to put the rumors to rest.
But the strange occurrences continue, without any obvious explanation. Is this one case that can stump even the Great Mouse Detective? And as Basil and Dawson dig deeper, are there even more sinister secrets afoot?
96 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 26, 2020
7 people are currently reading
144 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Hapka
431 books198 followersCatherine (Cathy) Hapka has written more than one hundred books for children and adults, as a ghostwriter for series as well as original titles, including the Romantic Comedies Something Borrowed, The Twelve Date of Christmas, and Love on Cue. She lives in Pennsylvania.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
October 28, 2020
5 is not enough 👏
My god, this is such a fun read and the illustrations are more than beautiful. Basil and Dawson are the greatest team and they are solving any mystery. This time the story is spooky, a ghost is in the Library, is it?
My god, this is such a fun read and the illustrations are more than beautiful. Basil and Dawson are the greatest team and they are solving any mystery. This time the story is spooky, a ghost is in the Library, is it?
November 27, 2024
Basil and Dawson are on their way to visit Oxford and see their old college friends. But when they arrive, their friends tell them that the college library is being haunted and strange things have been happening. Basil thinks someone is impersonating a ghost for their own nefarious ends, but Dawson wonders if something else might be going on. Meanwhile, Ratigan has escaped prison and Basil is on high alert, searching for any clue to his whereabouts.
I love this story so much! I have always been a fan of the Great Mouse Detective cartoon, so I was delighted to discover that the movie was based on a book series. The writing is charming, the story is exciting, and the mystery is full of wild clues that only Basil can figure out. I also loved the adorable illustrations that bring the characters to life.
This chapter book would be perfect for young readers ages 6-10 who are starting to read on their own, but it is also enjoyable for older children to read. I loved reading it even as an adult!
I love this story so much! I have always been a fan of the Great Mouse Detective cartoon, so I was delighted to discover that the movie was based on a book series. The writing is charming, the story is exciting, and the mystery is full of wild clues that only Basil can figure out. I also loved the adorable illustrations that bring the characters to life.
This chapter book would be perfect for young readers ages 6-10 who are starting to read on their own, but it is also enjoyable for older children to read. I loved reading it even as an adult!
June 26, 2020
Amazing
Another great book in a great series. I truly hope that there will be more installments in the future. So glad that even though the original creator has passed that there DC was someone talented enough to pick up th mantle.
Another great book in a great series. I truly hope that there will be more installments in the future. So glad that even though the original creator has passed that there DC was someone talented enough to pick up th mantle.
November 27, 2025
Rating: 3.9 / 5
On the one hand, as the final book of this series, it definitely doesn't disappoint...
...and yet...
I can't help but think that the author might have wanted to go a little further into things with Basil, and written more sequels, but just didn't get the chance. Because this, while charming, feels like a midway, episodic adventure rather than a final one.
Basil and Dawson are headed back to Ratcliffe, their alma meter, to meet up with some old friends and at the same time solve a case regarding the "library ghost" that's been seen. Basil, of course, doesn't believe in ghosts, and is on the case; but, at the same time, he's preoccupied with the fact that none other than the dastardly Ratigan is out of jail yet again, and must be stopped!
While Ratigan did have somewhat of a role in this story towards the end though, I'm afraid that his appearance was far too brief for it to really make much of an impact, and the fact that he evades capture yet again makes me think that the author was leaving it open for Basil to have more adventures chasing him in the future. That's my take on it, anyway.
Unfortunately, as the series has progressed, it seems to me like Ratigan was really more present at the start of the series as a villain rather than towards the end of it, which really did focus in more on smaller, bite-sized adventures.
Still though, all in all, it was a charming experience, and one that I don't regret having. *smiles*
On the one hand, as the final book of this series, it definitely doesn't disappoint...
...and yet...
I can't help but think that the author might have wanted to go a little further into things with Basil, and written more sequels, but just didn't get the chance. Because this, while charming, feels like a midway, episodic adventure rather than a final one.
Basil and Dawson are headed back to Ratcliffe, their alma meter, to meet up with some old friends and at the same time solve a case regarding the "library ghost" that's been seen. Basil, of course, doesn't believe in ghosts, and is on the case; but, at the same time, he's preoccupied with the fact that none other than the dastardly Ratigan is out of jail yet again, and must be stopped!
While Ratigan did have somewhat of a role in this story towards the end though, I'm afraid that his appearance was far too brief for it to really make much of an impact, and the fact that he evades capture yet again makes me think that the author was leaving it open for Basil to have more adventures chasing him in the future. That's my take on it, anyway.
Unfortunately, as the series has progressed, it seems to me like Ratigan was really more present at the start of the series as a villain rather than towards the end of it, which really did focus in more on smaller, bite-sized adventures.
Still though, all in all, it was a charming experience, and one that I don't regret having. *smiles*
March 14, 2021
You guys! There's new Basil of Baker Street books, and they don't suck!
This is not to say that they're good, mind you. They lean a little heavily on Dawson's interest in cheese, Basil's interest in nothing but Sherlock Holmes, and Ratigan. In addition, these books focus on one case each, whereas the original Titus books had multiple cases as Dawson and Basil travelled aroundbeing unfortunate colonialist caricatures having a good time in various places. Furthermore, Basil is always called in on these cases, as opposed to just tripping over them. And finally, at least in these books, there's at least one relationship or individual that an adult will catch onto fairly quickly, but it isn't the only mystery and there are genuine puzzlers in there.
But they don't suck! They're fun, cute, short original stories that don't pastiche any Holmes stories. Basil and the Library Ghost features... well, a library ghost. I loved the mention of a library ghost not really being into destroying a library, though I'm not sure phosphorus actually works that way.
All in all, not bad, cute, and fun stories. Worth a look for old and new fans alike.
This is not to say that they're good, mind you. They lean a little heavily on Dawson's interest in cheese, Basil's interest in nothing but Sherlock Holmes, and Ratigan. In addition, these books focus on one case each, whereas the original Titus books had multiple cases as Dawson and Basil travelled around
But they don't suck! They're fun, cute, short original stories that don't pastiche any Holmes stories. Basil and the Library Ghost features... well, a library ghost. I loved the mention of a library ghost not really being into destroying a library, though I'm not sure phosphorus actually works that way.
All in all, not bad, cute, and fun stories. Worth a look for old and new fans alike.
November 15, 2022
A cute family read. Reminiscent of Scooby Doo, fans of The Great Mouse Detective will enjoy solving the mystery along with Basil in this original adventure.
November 17, 2022
It's basic. It's based on the Hound and the Baskerville. The solution is obvious but maybe kids would have more fun figuring it out.
The audiobook is a bonus borrow on Hoopla for November 2022.
The audiobook is a bonus borrow on Hoopla for November 2022.
November 26, 2023
Love these books, so cute - great family reads and the illustrations are fantastic.
June 27, 2024
Was not expecting willie pete in a children's book.
January 2, 2025
A disappointing finish to a very fun book series. It was fun to meet some of Basil and Dr Dawson's University chums, but the mystery itself was underwhelming. Catherine Hapka is, unfortunately, not up to Eve Titus's level when it comes to Basil stories.
March 13, 2024
I was introduced to The Great Mouse Detective through the Disney film. This is a delightful story with those same characters. Glad to see they are carrying on with this series.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews